Dr Cosgrave is one of Ireland’s most prominent consultants in Sports & Exercise Medicine. He specialises in the management of pain and injury in patients of all ages and all levels of activity.

He is currently the doctor for the Irish Senior Rugby Team and has held similar positions with the British & Irish Lions, Liverpool Football Club and Leinster Rugby. He joined the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic in 2013 having completed his consultancy training in Liverpool.

Dr Cosgrave graduated in medicine from Queen’s University Belfast in 2004 and has an MSc in Sports & exercise medicine from Trinity College Dublin. He also has qualifications in Sports psychology and Medical education. He has been an active member of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine since 2015 and is currently the Chair of the Education committee.

Dr Cosgrave has a wealth of experience in elite sport. In addition to his experience in rugby and soccer, he has also worked in basketball, karate, judo, athletics and at the Olympic Games. At UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic he works closely with athletes and coaches on injury prevention and performance enhancement.

He has a particular interest in managing concussion and in ultrasound-guided injections of joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and the spine.

Treatment and management of acute chronic sports injuries, musculoskeletal injuries, Groin & tendon injuries

Paul Dobbelaar is a Sports & Exercise Physician and Human Movement Scientist from the Netherlands. He graduated as MSc in Human Movement Science from Maastricht University in 1990 with a Master thesis in altitude physiology.

In 1995 he completed his medical training at Maastricht University. Dr Dobbelaar trained as Sports Physician from 1996 until 2000 in Veldhoven, Heerlen and at the Dutch National Sports Centre Papendal. Dr Dobbelaar has worked in his own sport medical practice in the South of the Netherlands since 2005. He has a broad experience in elite sports having worked as team doctor to the Dutch Climbing and Alpine Club, the Royal Dutch Cycling Union and the Dutch Triathlon Federation as well as Dutch Basketball championship winning team EBBC/Libertel Dolphins.

He was Head of the Medical Staff of the first professional football club in the Netherlands, Fortuna Sittard from 2005-2010. Dr Dobbelaar has a special interest in overuse sports injuries and exercise physiology, especially in relation to fatigue and diminished exercise capacity.

Dr O’Donovan, MB BCh BaO, FFSEM, MFSEM (UK), MICGP, MCFP (Canada), MSc (SEM),Dip Sports Med (CASEM), LFOM

He graduated in medicine from University College Dublin and undertook specialist training in General Practice at the University of Limerick in 2012 followed by a Masters in Sports & Exercise medicine at Trinity College Dublin in 2013.

He then completed fellowship training at the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic, Dublin and University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

He has a wealth of team experience working as team doctor for Irish international underage male and female teams including Irish soccer teams(U15-U19) and the Irish rugby U20 World Cup team in 2015. He was head of medical services in Munster Rugby 2015-2016 and was the lead doctor for Leinster Rugby 2016-2017. He was Irish team doctor for the 2015 European games in Azerbaijan as well as the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games 2016.

Jim has recently returned from the University of British Columbia where he was the doctor to the university sports teams across 25 different disciplines and he continues to work with a multitude of sports and athletes as they prepare for Tokyo 2020 through his role as Sports Physician at the Irish Institute of Sport.

As a member of the GAA Medical and Scientific Committee and GPA Medical Advisor, he has been involved in drawing up guidelines to deal with issues such as concussion and player welfare. He has previously been secretary of the FAI committee and a member of the medical committee of PRO14 Rugby.

Jim was an active sportsman who held a professional development contract with Leinster Rugby following completion of his initial medical training and also represented Limerick Gaelic Footballers at midfield from 2008 to 2013 going on to play in two Munster Finals and an All-Ireland Quarter Final.

He has published chapters in the renowned Brukner & Khan’s 2019 Sports Medicine Text and also Triathlon Medicine text. His current research topics include effects of running on cartilage and non-surgical management of knee osteoarthritis. He has a special interest in foot and ankle issues, tendons and stress fractures, promoting physical activity in all age groups and treating musculoskeletal conditions in adolescent and elderly populations. He performs joint and tendon injections using ultrasound guidance.

Dr Stuart O’Flanagan

FFSEM (Ireland) MFSEM (UK) MICGP BMBS MSc (Oxon) BSc Hons Physiotherapy

Dr O’Flanagan is the first Irish trained Consultant in Sports & Exercise Medicine. He has extensive experience in elite sport. He holds the roles of Leinster Rugby Team Doctor and Medical Lead to the IRFU National Rugby Sevens Programme. He joins SSC having returned from the Olympic Games in Tokyo with the Irish Men’s Rugby Sevens Team. He was also appointed as the Ireland Rugby Senior Team Doctor for the 2021 Summer Series.

Dr O’Flanagan initially trained as a Chartered Physiotherapist. He worked for a number of years with a focus on sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. He undertook a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Stellenbosch University Sports Performance Institute (SUSPI), South Africa. He covered a range of elite varsity sports including netball, hockey, tennis, athletics, swimming and soccer. He also worked with the Western Province/Stormers Super Rugby academy. He then read for an MSc in Sports Medicine at the University of Oxford.

Dr O’Flanagan completed his medical studies at the University of Limerick and primary specialist training in General Practice via the Trinity College Dublin/HSE Training Scheme. He subsequently completed Higher Specialist Training in Sports and Exercise Medicine through the FSEM in Ireland. Previous roles in sport include Team Doctor with Dublin GAA (Minor and U21 football teams) and with rugby teams including Ireland Club XV, Ireland U19, Ireland U20 (Junior World Championships 2018 & 2019), Leinster U18, 19, 20’s and A teams. Dr O’Flanagan also acts as an independent match day doctor for concussion and injury recognition at 6 Nations and international rugby games. He regularly consults with individual elite athletes including Major winning golfers on the European and US PGA Tours.

Dr O’Flanagan is passionate about physical activity and is a strong advocate for exercise prescription in all populations. He played rugby at semi-professional level in the English National League and the All Ireland League and was a recipient of the Major Stanley Rugby Scholarship at the University of Oxford.

Dr O’Flanagan specialises in the diagnosis and non-operative management of acute and chronic sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions in patients at all levels of sport and recreation as well as occupational related issues. Clinical interests include acute soft tissue injuries, concussion, illness and injury prevention in sport and diagnostic and interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound. He takes a particular interest in the medicine of high performance environments and works closely with elite athletes and teams to optimise performance and long term health.

Dr Ronan Kearney [FFSEM, MFSEM (UK), MB, BCh, BAO, MICGP, MSc (SEM), Dip (MSK, FIFA, Occ. H)] is a Consultant Sports and Exercise Medicine Physician at the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic, Dublin alongside sporting roles with Sport Ireland Institute, European Tour Golf and Louth GAA.

He completed undergraduate medical training at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. After working across a number of Orthopaedic and Emergency Medicine roles in Ireland and Australia, he completed an MSc in Sports and Exercise Medicine at Trinity College Dublin. Subsequently he undertook General Practice training at RCSI/Dublin before completing Higher Specialist Training in Sports and Exercise Medicine with the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine (RCSI/RCPI).

Dr Kearney has worked as Team Doctor across a number of sports including: Soccer (Rep. of Ireland Men’s U18, U21, Rep. of Ireland Women’s U16, Women’s National Senior Team, Shamrock Rovers FC), Rugby (Trinity Rugby, Easts Rugby Union Brisbane), GAA (Louth GAA, Castlebar Mitchells), Athletics (Sport Ireland Institute, Dublin Marathon Series) and Rowing (Commercial Rowing Club Dublin). He has also been an Expedition Doctor on Mount Kilimanjaro and has worked as Medical Officer at multiple European Tour golf events.

He is an Associate Editor for the BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine Journal having previously held the role of Lead Author for Education from other Journals section of the British Journal of Sports Medicine. He is a Sports and Exercise Medicine lecturer to the MSc Sports and Exercise Medicine (Trinity College Dublin) and Paramedic Studies (University of Limerick) postgraduate courses. He is Chairman of the Gaelic Athletic Medical Association, Secretary of the Football Association of Ireland Medical Committee as well as member of the Irish Society of Lifestyle Medicine and FSEM Education Committee.

Ronan is an active sportsman having previously played underage intercounty gaelic football for Louth and now enjoys running, cycling, hiking and golfing.

Dr Colm McCarthy is a local and internationally trained Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) Physician. He is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Sport & Exercise Medicine Physicians and the Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine in Ireland. He graduated from UCD in 2005 and completed GP training and an MSc in Sports Medicine in Dublin before relocating to Perth, Western Australia, in 2013. There he gained a wealth of experience in elite and professional sports along with completing the world-renowned ACSEP training program and examinations to be recognised as a specialist in SEM in Australia. Colm returned home to Dublin in 2023.

Colm has worked in professional and international rugby union with both men and women since 2016, in professional soccer and netball, and was a medical consultant to the West Australian Ballet from 2020 to 2023. He also has a strong interest in running and endurance sports and helping individual athletes overcome injury and return to performance. Colm also enjoys helping children, adolescents and older adults with any kind of sporting, joint, tendon or muscle issue to get back moving.

Colm’s clinical approach focuses on a thorough history and examination of all patients. He is experienced in interpreting MRI, x-ray and ultrasound imaging and performs injections under ultrasound guidance where indicated.

Dr Jamie Kearns is originally from Dublin. He qualified from UCD in 2006 with an honours degree as well as a BMedSci. He went on to complete basic specialist training in medicine in Galway and completed an MRCPI in 2009. As part of his BST, he undertook a six-month visiting rotation at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. He subsequently completed a Masters in Sports and Exercise Medicine from NUI Galway in 2011, graduating with a 1st Class Honours.
Dr Kearns proceeded to vocational training in general practice and was awarded MICGP in 2013. Having worked in full-time General Practice with a specialist interest in sports and orthopaedic medicine, Dr Kearns began specialist training in Sports and Exercise Medicine in 2021 and completed his training in 2023. During his specialist training, he undertook post-graduate training in Medical Ultrasound at AECC University College, Bournemouth. He has also been awarded membership to the Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine UK. Since 2018, Dr Kearns has been the Head of Medical for Munster Rugby. He has worked as a team doctor for Connacht Rugby and the Ireland Men’s senior rugby team, as well as the independent match day doctor for senior internationals, including the upcoming six nations.

Dr Kearns also has experience working with the FAI joining the Ireland Women’s Senior team in 2012 and working with the U19’s Men’s team thereafter. He was awarded FFSEM (Irl) in 2017 and was elected to the Board of the FSEM in 2018. He was PCS manager until his entry onto the Specialist Training Scheme and still sits on the subcommittee for Fellowship and Membership. He is also undertaking research in collaboration with the University of Limerick into blood biomarkers in concussion within elite-level rugby. He has a number of publications in this area and neurology.

Dr Cosgrave is one of Ireland’s most prominent consultants in Sports & Exercise Medicine. He specialises in the management of pain and injury in patients of all ages and all levels of activity.

He is currently the doctor for the Irish Senior Rugby Team and has held similar positions with the British & Irish Lions, Liverpool Football Club and Leinster Rugby. He joined the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic in 2013 having completed his consultancy training in Liverpool.

Dr Cosgrave graduated in medicine from Queen’s University Belfast in 2004 and has an MSc in Sports & exercise medicine from Trinity College Dublin. He also has qualifications in Sports psychology and Medical education. He has been an active member of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine since 2015 and is currently the Chair of the Education committee.

Dr Cosgrave has a wealth of experience in elite sport. In addition to his experience in rugby and soccer, he has also worked in basketball, karate, judo, athletics and at the Olympic Games. At UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic he works closely with athletes and coaches on injury prevention and performance enhancement.

He has a particular interest in managing concussion and in ultrasound-guided injections of joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and the spine.

Treatment and management of acute chronic sports injuries, musculoskeletal injuries, Groin & tendon injuries

Paul Dobbelaar is a Sports & Exercise Physician and Human Movement Scientist from the Netherlands. He graduated as MSc in Human Movement Science from Maastricht University in 1990 with a Master thesis in altitude physiology.

In 1995 he completed his medical training at Maastricht University. Dr Dobbelaar trained as Sports Physician from 1996 until 2000 in Veldhoven, Heerlen and at the Dutch National Sports Centre Papendal. Dr Dobbelaar has worked in his own sport medical practice in the South of the Netherlands since 2005. He has a broad experience in elite sports having worked as team doctor to the Dutch Climbing and Alpine Club, the Royal Dutch Cycling Union and the Dutch Triathlon Federation as well as Dutch Basketball championship winning team EBBC/Libertel Dolphins.

He was Head of the Medical Staff of the first professional football club in the Netherlands, Fortuna Sittard from 2005-2010. Dr Dobbelaar has a special interest in overuse sports injuries and exercise physiology, especially in relation to fatigue and diminished exercise capacity.

Dr O’Donovan, MB BCh BaO, FFSEM, MFSEM (UK), MICGP, MCFP (Canada), MSc (SEM),Dip Sports Med (CASEM), LFOM

He graduated in medicine from University College Dublin and undertook specialist training in General Practice at the University of Limerick in 2012 followed by a Masters in Sports & Exercise medicine at Trinity College Dublin in 2013.

He then completed fellowship training at the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic, Dublin and University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

He has a wealth of team experience working as team doctor for Irish international underage male and female teams including Irish soccer teams(U15-U19) and the Irish rugby U20 World Cup team in 2015. He was head of medical services in Munster Rugby 2015-2016 and was the lead doctor for Leinster Rugby 2016-2017. He was Irish team doctor for the 2015 European games in Azerbaijan as well as the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games 2016.

Jim has recently returned from the University of British Columbia where he was the doctor to the university sports teams across 25 different disciplines and he continues to work with a multitude of sports and athletes as they prepare for Tokyo 2020 through his role as Sports Physician at the Irish Institute of Sport.

As a member of the GAA Medical and Scientific Committee and GPA Medical Advisor, he has been involved in drawing up guidelines to deal with issues such as concussion and player welfare. He has previously been secretary of the FAI committee and a member of the medical committee of PRO14 Rugby.

Jim was an active sportsman who held a professional development contract with Leinster Rugby following completion of his initial medical training and also represented Limerick Gaelic Footballers at midfield from 2008 to 2013 going on to play in two Munster Finals and an All-Ireland Quarter Final.

He has published chapters in the renowned Brukner & Khan’s 2019 Sports Medicine Text and also Triathlon Medicine text. His current research topics include effects of running on cartilage and non-surgical management of knee osteoarthritis. He has a special interest in foot and ankle issues, tendons and stress fractures, promoting physical activity in all age groups and treating musculoskeletal conditions in adolescent and elderly populations. He performs joint and tendon injections using ultrasound guidance.

Dr Stuart O’Flanagan

FFSEM (Ireland) MFSEM (UK) MICGP BMBS MSc (Oxon) BSc Hons Physiotherapy

Dr O’Flanagan is the first Irish trained Consultant in Sports & Exercise Medicine. He has extensive experience in elite sport. He holds the roles of Leinster Rugby Team Doctor and Medical Lead to the IRFU National Rugby Sevens Programme. He joins SSC having returned from the Olympic Games in Tokyo with the Irish Men’s Rugby Sevens Team. He was also appointed as the Ireland Rugby Senior Team Doctor for the 2021 Summer Series.

Dr O’Flanagan initially trained as a Chartered Physiotherapist. He worked for a number of years with a focus on sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. He undertook a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Stellenbosch University Sports Performance Institute (SUSPI), South Africa. He covered a range of elite varsity sports including netball, hockey, tennis, athletics, swimming and soccer. He also worked with the Western Province/Stormers Super Rugby academy. He then read for an MSc in Sports Medicine at the University of Oxford.

Dr O’Flanagan completed his medical studies at the University of Limerick and primary specialist training in General Practice via the Trinity College Dublin/HSE Training Scheme. He subsequently completed Higher Specialist Training in Sports and Exercise Medicine through the FSEM in Ireland. Previous roles in sport include Team Doctor with Dublin GAA (Minor and U21 football teams) and with rugby teams including Ireland Club XV, Ireland U19, Ireland U20 (Junior World Championships 2018 & 2019), Leinster U18, 19, 20’s and A teams. Dr O’Flanagan also acts as an independent match day doctor for concussion and injury recognition at 6 Nations and international rugby games. He regularly consults with individual elite athletes including Major winning golfers on the European and US PGA Tours.

Dr O’Flanagan is passionate about physical activity and is a strong advocate for exercise prescription in all populations. He played rugby at semi-professional level in the English National League and the All Ireland League and was a recipient of the Major Stanley Rugby Scholarship at the University of Oxford.

Dr O’Flanagan specialises in the diagnosis and non-operative management of acute and chronic sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions in patients at all levels of sport and recreation as well as occupational related issues. Clinical interests include acute soft tissue injuries, concussion, illness and injury prevention in sport and diagnostic and interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound. He takes a particular interest in the medicine of high performance environments and works closely with elite athletes and teams to optimise performance and long term health.

Dr Ronan Kearney [FFSEM, MFSEM (UK), MB, BCh, BAO, MICGP, MSc (SEM), Dip (MSK, FIFA, Occ. H)] is a Consultant Sports and Exercise Medicine Physician at the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic, Dublin alongside sporting roles with Sport Ireland Institute, European Tour Golf and Louth GAA.

He completed undergraduate medical training at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. After working across a number of Orthopaedic and Emergency Medicine roles in Ireland and Australia, he completed an MSc in Sports and Exercise Medicine at Trinity College Dublin. Subsequently he undertook General Practice training at RCSI/Dublin before completing Higher Specialist Training in Sports and Exercise Medicine with the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine (RCSI/RCPI).

Dr Kearney has worked as Team Doctor across a number of sports including: Soccer (Rep. of Ireland Men’s U18, U21, Rep. of Ireland Women’s U16, Women’s National Senior Team, Shamrock Rovers FC), Rugby (Trinity Rugby, Easts Rugby Union Brisbane), GAA (Louth GAA, Castlebar Mitchells), Athletics (Sport Ireland Institute, Dublin Marathon Series) and Rowing (Commercial Rowing Club Dublin). He has also been an Expedition Doctor on Mount Kilimanjaro and has worked as Medical Officer at multiple European Tour golf events.

He is an Associate Editor for the BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine Journal having previously held the role of Lead Author for Education from other Journals section of the British Journal of Sports Medicine. He is a Sports and Exercise Medicine lecturer to the MSc Sports and Exercise Medicine (Trinity College Dublin) and Paramedic Studies (University of Limerick) postgraduate courses. He is Chairman of the Gaelic Athletic Medical Association, Secretary of the Football Association of Ireland Medical Committee as well as member of the Irish Society of Lifestyle Medicine and FSEM Education Committee.

Ronan is an active sportsman having previously played underage intercounty gaelic football for Louth and now enjoys running, cycling, hiking and golfing.

Dr Colm McCarthy is a local and internationally trained Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) Physician. He is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Sport & Exercise Medicine Physicians and the Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine in Ireland. He graduated from UCD in 2005 and completed GP training and an MSc in Sports Medicine in Dublin before relocating to Perth, Western Australia, in 2013. There he gained a wealth of experience in elite and professional sports along with completing the world-renowned ACSEP training program and examinations to be recognised as a specialist in SEM in Australia. Colm returned home to Dublin in 2023.

Colm has worked in professional and international rugby union with both men and women since 2016, in professional soccer and netball, and was a medical consultant to the West Australian Ballet from 2020 to 2023. He also has a strong interest in running and endurance sports and helping individual athletes overcome injury and return to performance. Colm also enjoys helping children, adolescents and older adults with any kind of sporting, joint, tendon or muscle issue to get back moving.

Colm’s clinical approach focuses on a thorough history and examination of all patients. He is experienced in interpreting MRI, x-ray and ultrasound imaging and performs injections under ultrasound guidance where indicated.

Dr Jamie Kearns is originally from Dublin. He qualified from UCD in 2006 with an honours degree as well as a BMedSci. He went on to complete basic specialist training in medicine in Galway and completed an MRCPI in 2009. As part of his BST, he undertook a six-month visiting rotation at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. He subsequently completed a Masters in Sports and Exercise Medicine from NUI Galway in 2011, graduating with a 1st Class Honours.
Dr Kearns proceeded to vocational training in general practice and was awarded MICGP in 2013. Having worked in full-time General Practice with a specialist interest in sports and orthopaedic medicine, Dr Kearns began specialist training in Sports and Exercise Medicine in 2021 and completed his training in 2023. During his specialist training, he undertook post-graduate training in Medical Ultrasound at AECC University College, Bournemouth. He has also been awarded membership to the Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine UK. Since 2018, Dr Kearns has been the Head of Medical for Munster Rugby. He has worked as a team doctor for Connacht Rugby and the Ireland Men’s senior rugby team, as well as the independent match day doctor for senior internationals, including the upcoming six nations.

Dr Kearns also has experience working with the FAI joining the Ireland Women’s Senior team in 2012 and working with the U19’s Men’s team thereafter. He was awarded FFSEM (Irl) in 2017 and was elected to the Board of the FSEM in 2018. He was PCS manager until his entry onto the Specialist Training Scheme and still sits on the subcommittee for Fellowship and Membership. He is also undertaking research in collaboration with the University of Limerick into blood biomarkers in concussion within elite-level rugby. He has a number of publications in this area and neurology.

Dr Cosgrave is one of Ireland’s most prominent consultants in Sports & Exercise Medicine. He specialises in the management of pain and injury in patients of all ages and all levels of activity.

He is currently the doctor for the Irish Senior Rugby Team and has held similar positions with the British & Irish Lions, Liverpool Football Club and Leinster Rugby. He joined the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic in 2013 having completed his consultancy training in Liverpool.

Dr Cosgrave graduated in medicine from Queen’s University Belfast in 2004 and has an MSc in Sports & exercise medicine from Trinity College Dublin. He also has qualifications in Sports psychology and Medical education. He has been an active member of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine since 2015 and is currently the Chair of the Education committee.

Dr Cosgrave has a wealth of experience in elite sport. In addition to his experience in rugby and soccer, he has also worked in basketball, karate, judo, athletics and at the Olympic Games. At UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic he works closely with athletes and coaches on injury prevention and performance enhancement.

He has a particular interest in managing concussion and in ultrasound-guided injections of joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and the spine.

Treatment and management of acute chronic sports injuries, musculoskeletal injuries, Groin & tendon injuries

Paul Dobbelaar is a Sports & Exercise Physician and Human Movement Scientist from the Netherlands. He graduated as MSc in Human Movement Science from Maastricht University in 1990 with a Master thesis in altitude physiology.

In 1995 he completed his medical training at Maastricht University. Dr Dobbelaar trained as Sports Physician from 1996 until 2000 in Veldhoven, Heerlen and at the Dutch National Sports Centre Papendal. Dr Dobbelaar has worked in his own sport medical practice in the South of the Netherlands since 2005. He has a broad experience in elite sports having worked as team doctor to the Dutch Climbing and Alpine Club, the Royal Dutch Cycling Union and the Dutch Triathlon Federation as well as Dutch Basketball championship winning team EBBC/Libertel Dolphins.

He was Head of the Medical Staff of the first professional football club in the Netherlands, Fortuna Sittard from 2005-2010. Dr Dobbelaar has a special interest in overuse sports injuries and exercise physiology, especially in relation to fatigue and diminished exercise capacity.

Dr O’Donovan, MB BCh BaO, FFSEM, MFSEM (UK), MICGP, MCFP (Canada), MSc (SEM),Dip Sports Med (CASEM), LFOM

He graduated in medicine from University College Dublin and undertook specialist training in General Practice at the University of Limerick in 2012 followed by a Masters in Sports & Exercise medicine at Trinity College Dublin in 2013.

He then completed fellowship training at the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic, Dublin and University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

He has a wealth of team experience working as team doctor for Irish international underage male and female teams including Irish soccer teams(U15-U19) and the Irish rugby U20 World Cup team in 2015. He was head of medical services in Munster Rugby 2015-2016 and was the lead doctor for Leinster Rugby 2016-2017. He was Irish team doctor for the 2015 European games in Azerbaijan as well as the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games 2016.

Jim has recently returned from the University of British Columbia where he was the doctor to the university sports teams across 25 different disciplines and he continues to work with a multitude of sports and athletes as they prepare for Tokyo 2020 through his role as Sports Physician at the Irish Institute of Sport.

As a member of the GAA Medical and Scientific Committee and GPA Medical Advisor, he has been involved in drawing up guidelines to deal with issues such as concussion and player welfare. He has previously been secretary of the FAI committee and a member of the medical committee of PRO14 Rugby.

Jim was an active sportsman who held a professional development contract with Leinster Rugby following completion of his initial medical training and also represented Limerick Gaelic Footballers at midfield from 2008 to 2013 going on to play in two Munster Finals and an All-Ireland Quarter Final.

He has published chapters in the renowned Brukner & Khan’s 2019 Sports Medicine Text and also Triathlon Medicine text. His current research topics include effects of running on cartilage and non-surgical management of knee osteoarthritis. He has a special interest in foot and ankle issues, tendons and stress fractures, promoting physical activity in all age groups and treating musculoskeletal conditions in adolescent and elderly populations. He performs joint and tendon injections using ultrasound guidance.

Dr Stuart O’Flanagan

FFSEM (Ireland) MFSEM (UK) MICGP BMBS MSc (Oxon) BSc Hons Physiotherapy

Dr O’Flanagan is the first Irish trained Consultant in Sports & Exercise Medicine. He has extensive experience in elite sport. He holds the roles of Leinster Rugby Team Doctor and Medical Lead to the IRFU National Rugby Sevens Programme. He joins SSC having returned from the Olympic Games in Tokyo with the Irish Men’s Rugby Sevens Team. He was also appointed as the Ireland Rugby Senior Team Doctor for the 2021 Summer Series.

Dr O’Flanagan initially trained as a Chartered Physiotherapist. He worked for a number of years with a focus on sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. He undertook a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Stellenbosch University Sports Performance Institute (SUSPI), South Africa. He covered a range of elite varsity sports including netball, hockey, tennis, athletics, swimming and soccer. He also worked with the Western Province/Stormers Super Rugby academy. He then read for an MSc in Sports Medicine at the University of Oxford.

Dr O’Flanagan completed his medical studies at the University of Limerick and primary specialist training in General Practice via the Trinity College Dublin/HSE Training Scheme. He subsequently completed Higher Specialist Training in Sports and Exercise Medicine through the FSEM in Ireland. Previous roles in sport include Team Doctor with Dublin GAA (Minor and U21 football teams) and with rugby teams including Ireland Club XV, Ireland U19, Ireland U20 (Junior World Championships 2018 & 2019), Leinster U18, 19, 20’s and A teams. Dr O’Flanagan also acts as an independent match day doctor for concussion and injury recognition at 6 Nations and international rugby games. He regularly consults with individual elite athletes including Major winning golfers on the European and US PGA Tours.

Dr O’Flanagan is passionate about physical activity and is a strong advocate for exercise prescription in all populations. He played rugby at semi-professional level in the English National League and the All Ireland League and was a recipient of the Major Stanley Rugby Scholarship at the University of Oxford.

Dr O’Flanagan specialises in the diagnosis and non-operative management of acute and chronic sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions in patients at all levels of sport and recreation as well as occupational related issues. Clinical interests include acute soft tissue injuries, concussion, illness and injury prevention in sport and diagnostic and interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound. He takes a particular interest in the medicine of high performance environments and works closely with elite athletes and teams to optimise performance and long term health.

Dr Ronan Kearney [FFSEM, MFSEM (UK), MB, BCh, BAO, MICGP, MSc (SEM), Dip (MSK, FIFA, Occ. H)] is a Consultant Sports and Exercise Medicine Physician at the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic, Dublin alongside sporting roles with Sport Ireland Institute, European Tour Golf and Louth GAA.

He completed undergraduate medical training at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. After working across a number of Orthopaedic and Emergency Medicine roles in Ireland and Australia, he completed an MSc in Sports and Exercise Medicine at Trinity College Dublin. Subsequently he undertook General Practice training at RCSI/Dublin before completing Higher Specialist Training in Sports and Exercise Medicine with the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine (RCSI/RCPI).

Dr Kearney has worked as Team Doctor across a number of sports including: Soccer (Rep. of Ireland Men’s U18, U21, Rep. of Ireland Women’s U16, Women’s National Senior Team, Shamrock Rovers FC), Rugby (Trinity Rugby, Easts Rugby Union Brisbane), GAA (Louth GAA, Castlebar Mitchells), Athletics (Sport Ireland Institute, Dublin Marathon Series) and Rowing (Commercial Rowing Club Dublin). He has also been an Expedition Doctor on Mount Kilimanjaro and has worked as Medical Officer at multiple European Tour golf events.

He is an Associate Editor for the BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine Journal having previously held the role of Lead Author for Education from other Journals section of the British Journal of Sports Medicine. He is a Sports and Exercise Medicine lecturer to the MSc Sports and Exercise Medicine (Trinity College Dublin) and Paramedic Studies (University of Limerick) postgraduate courses. He is Chairman of the Gaelic Athletic Medical Association, Secretary of the Football Association of Ireland Medical Committee as well as member of the Irish Society of Lifestyle Medicine and FSEM Education Committee.

Ronan is an active sportsman having previously played underage intercounty gaelic football for Louth and now enjoys running, cycling, hiking and golfing.

Dr Colm McCarthy is a local and internationally trained Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) Physician. He is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Sport & Exercise Medicine Physicians and the Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine in Ireland. He graduated from UCD in 2005 and completed GP training and an MSc in Sports Medicine in Dublin before relocating to Perth, Western Australia, in 2013. There he gained a wealth of experience in elite and professional sports along with completing the world-renowned ACSEP training program and examinations to be recognised as a specialist in SEM in Australia. Colm returned home to Dublin in 2023.

Colm has worked in professional and international rugby union with both men and women since 2016, in professional soccer and netball, and was a medical consultant to the West Australian Ballet from 2020 to 2023. He also has a strong interest in running and endurance sports and helping individual athletes overcome injury and return to performance. Colm also enjoys helping children, adolescents and older adults with any kind of sporting, joint, tendon or muscle issue to get back moving.

Colm’s clinical approach focuses on a thorough history and examination of all patients. He is experienced in interpreting MRI, x-ray and ultrasound imaging and performs injections under ultrasound guidance where indicated.

Dr Jamie Kearns is originally from Dublin. He qualified from UCD in 2006 with an honours degree as well as a BMedSci. He went on to complete basic specialist training in medicine in Galway and completed an MRCPI in 2009. As part of his BST, he undertook a six-month visiting rotation at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. He subsequently completed a Masters in Sports and Exercise Medicine from NUI Galway in 2011, graduating with a 1st Class Honours.
Dr Kearns proceeded to vocational training in general practice and was awarded MICGP in 2013. Having worked in full-time General Practice with a specialist interest in sports and orthopaedic medicine, Dr Kearns began specialist training in Sports and Exercise Medicine in 2021 and completed his training in 2023. During his specialist training, he undertook post-graduate training in Medical Ultrasound at AECC University College, Bournemouth. He has also been awarded membership to the Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine UK. Since 2018, Dr Kearns has been the Head of Medical for Munster Rugby. He has worked as a team doctor for Connacht Rugby and the Ireland Men’s senior rugby team, as well as the independent match day doctor for senior internationals, including the upcoming six nations.

Dr Kearns also has experience working with the FAI joining the Ireland Women’s Senior team in 2012 and working with the U19’s Men’s team thereafter. He was awarded FFSEM (Irl) in 2017 and was elected to the Board of the FSEM in 2018. He was PCS manager until his entry onto the Specialist Training Scheme and still sits on the subcommittee for Fellowship and Membership. He is also undertaking research in collaboration with the University of Limerick into blood biomarkers in concussion within elite-level rugby. He has a number of publications in this area and neurology.